PARASITE PREVENTION FOR DOGS AND CATS IN LOCUST GROVE, GA
Protecting your pet from serious illness or disease is best accomplished through prevention. At The Grove Animal Hospital, we provide dog and cats with parasite prevention through annual testing and administering preventative medication to ensure your pet’s health.
Contact The Grove Animal Hospital to schedule your pet’s annual testing today!

COMMON TYPES OF PET PARASITES
Fleas, ticks, heartworms and other parasites can transmit illness or disease to your dog or cat and affect them in a variety of ways. We recommend pets be provided with preventative medication year round to offer optimal protection. Parasites may not cause any immediate visible symptoms in your pet which is why annual testing and preventative medication is vital to ensuring your pet’s protection. The types of parasites include:
INTESTINAL PARASITES
The eggs of these parasites can be brought into your home on shoes or clothing, which means both indoor and outdoor pets are at risk. Roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, whipworms and giardia can cause intestinal parasites, and are commonly found in our area. These parasites do not provoke outward symptoms, making testing even more important.
EXTERNAL PARASITES
These parasites, such as fleas and ticks, are a year round concern. They are easily spread from pet to pet, and are very common afflictions to pets. Pets can be exposed to fleas and ticks through their environment, including your backyard or dog parks. They may cause itching, hair loss, allergies, anemia and skin infections or more serious illness such as Ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease. You probably know some of the symptoms: itching, hair loss, allergies, anemia and skin infections. However, the possibility of your pet transmitting other parasites, such as tapeworms or serious diseases like Ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease, is also something else to be aware of. Because of the weather and environmental conditions, we recommend that pets living in Georgia should be on flea and tick prevention year round. The key to preventing these parasites is following to a monthly, veterinarian-prescribed maintenance program.
HEARTWORMS
Mosquitos are the most common method of spreading heartworms and can affect both dogs and cats. This disease is very common in our area and requires monthly preventative medication in addition to regular testing for protection. Heartworm disease may cause coughing, reluctant to exercise, lethargy or sudden death. Early detection and treatment are the best possible care when it comes to heartworms.